Elastic-fluid turbine.



G. BLQGULLIER.

' ELASTIG FLUID TURBINE. APPLIOATIolg'ED SEPT. 13, 1909.

Patenteapec. 24, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor: .B' bwl/612 G. B. COLLIER. l

ELASTIC FLUID TURB'INE APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13V, 1909. 1,047 ,9 1 8.

4 snImTs-sIIPETz.

G. B. COLLIER.

` ELASTIG FLUID TURBNE.

APPLIoATIoN gum) SEPT. 1s, 1909.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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' UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

GUY B. COLLIER, 0F XINDERHOOK, NEW YORK.

Erasme-FLUID TURBINE.

Specification lof Letters Patent.

kApplication led September 13, 1909. Serial No. 517,370.

-To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY B. COLLIER, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Kinderhook, county of Columbia, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Elastic-Fluid Turbines,- of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

like letters on Athe drawings representingv construction by'which such object is at tained in high degree in a simple-and durable organization.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference to one practicable embodiment thereof shown for illustration in the accompanying drawings,'in which Figure 1 is an end elevation (partly in section on the line. 1`. 1 of Fig. 4) of an` illustrative steam turbine embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail section on a line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail section on a line 3 3 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on a line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail section on'a line 5 5 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section on a line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a detail section on a line 7 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detail -section to be referred-t0. Fig. `9 is a section on a line 9 9 of Fig. 6.` F-ig. 10 is a side elevation of a modified form of turbine hereinafter referred to. cal section through the axis of the rotor .shaft of the turbine shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12' is a rdetail section of the construction shown in Figs. 10 and l1, correspondingfto Figs. 2 and -9 of the. construction shown in eferring now'to Fig. 4,'the illustrative construction there shown comprisesa primary rotor 15 and a secondary rotor 17 both Fi 11 is a verti-` rotors are inclosed `preferably in separate casings as for instance an annular casing 22 supported upon the bed of the machine and containing the rotor 17; and an annu Patented Dee. 24, 1912.

fixed upon the rotor shaft 19. The two lar casing 24 containing the rotor 15 and'secured to the casing 22. A partition 26 difor the respective rotors, may be supplied conveniently by a cover plate secured to and closing the inner face of the casing 24. Y

Appropriate labyrinth or other packing 28,29 and 30 may be provided at the outer `extremities of the casings and the separatingl partition 26. 1

The stators for the respective rotors 15 and 17 may comprise each an annulus 32 or .34 in which suitable nozzles and'guides forV applying and distributing steam or other .viding the combined casings into chambers' elastic fluid may be suitably mounted, for

example as hereinafter described.

For the purposes ofthe specific illustrative machine, the rotor buckets, preferably of semi-circular shape, may be milled out of thesolid rims of the rotors and may be of the Pelton type as illustrated inFigs.

1 and 3.

For convenience the description will be confined for the present to the rotor 15, itsA stator 32 and immediately associated parts.v

The initial distribution of steam tothe rotor 15 preferably takes place at a plurality of points simultaneously, as for instance, through nozzles in the oppositely disposed passages 38 and 40 shown in dotted` lines in Fig. l, a nozzle in'the passage 38 being shown in sectionin Fig. 3.I Preferably steam/is supplied to passages 38 and 40 from the same source, as 'from a semiannular steam chest 42 v (Figs. 1 and 4) which may `be formed as part of the casing 24. The chest 42'has an inlet 44. A duct 46 connects the chest 42 with the passage 38 and a like duct 48 connects the chest 42 with the passage 40. If desired, throttle/' valves of any suitable construction may be provided for theU nozzles as by locating a hand valve in a duct 46or 4S.- Any suitably proportioned nozzles may4 be used.

Proper inclination'of the nozzles relative to the buckts may be readilyA predeternfiined i by an outlet 60 hereinafter referred to more by one skilled in the art in accordance with the general requirements which the turbine is designed to fulfil. As illustrated in Fig. 3 a nozzle may be mounted in a passage 38 formed by boring through the annulus or guide ring 32.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the steam initially applied to the rotor bya nozzle 38 or 40, may be recovered and applied again to the rotor.- For instance, as illustrated, a guide 50 (Fig. l) or 51 may be provided, having a receiving end 53 to take the steam from the buckets, and an outlet end 54 from which the steam is again introduced to the buckets. The steam applied to the buckets through the outlet ends 54, 54 may be 'recovered by guides 56 having receiving ends 58 and outlet ends 59. It desired, the steam applied to-the buckets through the outlet ends 59 may be recovered and reapplied to the rotor as many times as practicable. The successively acting guides shown in the drawings suiiice, however, to illustrate the character of the invention. After its final application to the rotor, the steam may be conducted away to another stage or to an exhaust, as the case may be,

. in detail.

The guide may be conveniently provided by a passage formed in one or both of mating blocks 64 and 65 (Fig. 5) countersunk into the sides of the annulus or guide ring 32, and there held in any Ipracticable manner as by machine screws. The next guide 56 tmay be formed in like manner by mating blocks 67, 68 also countersunk in the guide ring 32. The outlet may be similarly provided by mating blocks mounted in the guide ring 32. The successive pairs of mating blocks are preferably arranged in the staggered relationshown in Fig. 5 to alternate on opposite faces of the guide ring 32. This permits the successively acting guides to be arranged as close together as mayl be practicable, in a generally circumferential direction, and also permits the parts to be assembled conveniently, com.

pactly, and With a simple economical construction. It will be noted that each guide 50 and 56, in the s ecic illustrative arrangement, is dispose throughout its length in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor-the successive guides being disposed respectively in arallel planes. Thus, referring again to tig. 5, the steam stream moves irstthrou h the nozzle ofthe passage 3S into a rotor ucket,

then toward the right through the bucket to the receiving port 53 ofthe guide 5Q, thence ina generally circumferential dlrectlon toward and through the outlet port 54: of theguide and. into a rotor bucket, then through the bucket ,toward the left and into4 the receiving port 58 of the guide 56, then in a generally circumferential direction toward and through the outlet port 59 of the guide 56 into a rotor bucket, then through the bucket toward the right again into the re- Ceiving end of the outlet 60. The arran e ment of this staggered path to be pursuedy the stream admits of a highly compact, convenient and economical construction.

It has been attempted heretofore to practise the general idea of recovering the steam initially applied to the rotor, and thereafter reapplying it; but the manner in which this has been essayed prior to this invention has given rise to serious losses in efliciency and difiiculties ot construction which are subi stantially obviated by the construction embodying this invention.

To obtain maximum efliciency for any given bucket angle and peripheral speed of buckets, and to reduce losses from shock,

ed'dies, etc., the nozzle or other agency Jforvv delivered stream-the expression introducv tionangle being employed for brevity to designate the angle between the axis of the delivered steam stream, and the tangent to the m'ean radius of the receiving bucket at fthe point ot entrance of the stream. InA

other words,'the introduction angle is' less for a lesser absolute steam velocity than for a greater. Following this general preference,'the illustrative construction shown in `the drawings, has the outlet ports of the steam guides 50 and 56 arranged to deliver their streams at introduction angles predetermined with relation to the absolute velocity of the delivered streams.

When the stream has been once introduced to the buckets by the initial nozzle of the passage 38, it" suffers a loss in relative velocity while passing through the buckets, so that the absolute velocity, when the stream is taken off the buckets and enters the guide 50, is less than the initial absolute velocity. Consequently, the stream, ,when

reapplied to the buckets by said guide, has a less absolute velocity than it had at the nozzle. Following therefore, the general rule discussed in the preceding paragraph, the preferred embodiment-of the invention has a steam guide 50 (Fig. l) arranged to deliver a steam stream to the buckets atl a less introduction angle than that of the steam streaml entering therbuckets from the nozzle; 'the same is true of the guide 5l. In like manner the successively acting guide 56 is arranged to introduce a steam stream at a still less introduction angle corresponding to a further loss of velocity of the steam in passing from the guide 50 through the buckets imams-l to the guide 56. There may be 'as many guides 50, 56, etc., as practicable, acting successively to take the steam off and reapply `it to the Afbuckets. When the steam has passedlthrough4 the successively actingv guides, it maybereceived andconducted kto another stagefor to an exhaust, as the case may referred toi] n s Aside from the determination of the above described introduction angles, it isof importance, in order to maintain the 'highest practicable `eliiciency,` to determine the prope-r rece tion angles at which the steam shall be ta eny into the guides from' theV buckets. ,In taking the steam from the buckets, the reception angle between the axis of the stream received'y by avgu-ide Vand the tangent at the center point of the guide inlet port is preferably determined `with due regard to the relative velocity of the steam just before leaving thebuckets. In

other Words, the reception' angle is greater for a relatively low absolute velocity rjust A'25 .as the steam enters the guide, thank for a higher velocity. Accordingly the preferred embodiment of this invent-ion has `the inlet end-of the guide 50 arranged to take the steam stream from the buckets atfareception angle appropriate to the prevailing absolute steam velocity which is less than `the initialvelocity at the introduction of theA stream tothe buckets' by the nozzle.

The inlet 'emisor the guide 5 6 estranged tot-alge the stream from the buckets at a .greater receptlon angle than that of the guide 50, appropriate to the fall in absolute -velocity since the last' preceding introduction of the stream to the buckets from the guide 50. Similar successive increases in the describedreception anglesof successive guides are preferably provided'for if more than the specifically described guides be em- `steam from the buckets at progressively in- -creasingangles "Such an arrangement' contributes to reduce losses 'from shock and eddies and from other causes; and also pro vides for applying't-he steam to the buckets at increasingly effective angles as thel absolute velocity of the steamdecreases, hence contributing muchto the improvementI in efficiency of act-ion andreduction of steam consumption. As the velocity of the steam decreases in passing from guide to guide, the cross sectional areas of successive guides are progressively increased, as shoWnMin the drawings; tb allow the slower moving mass to passent kln'proper. time.

be, by an outlet 60 -(Fig. l) already getc.

'n arrangement involving theessential' characteristics of the construction just described may be used in a single stage: turbine as. illustrated in Figs. 10, -11Y and l2 -andhereinafter more fully referred to, or

may be used vin .the double stage turbine shown in Fig. 4. Likewise the substance of this invention-may be applied to a turbine of anypracticable number of stages unnecessary to bespecifically illustrated or described herein.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and for-thev purposes of the specific double stage turf:k bine shown for. illustratiom'the outlet 60V which receives the steam after itsV passage through the successively acting guides, communicates With a duct 70 extending through partof the casing's 22 and 24 to an annular steam chest 72 (see Ifig.` 4) in the vcasing 22 which supplies steam to 'a nozzle or-fnozf' vzles for the rotor 17 ofthe'second stage. Af-

vievv of the second stage of the turbine, 4in

section on the line 6--6 of-Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 6. Projecting toward the rotor: 17 from v the annular steam `chest 72 are the nozzle passages 76, l76 having nozzlesofi any;apr=

propriate design. There may becfourfioff..v

these nozzles preferably disposed around thef -rotor as illustrated in Fig. 6; or there may f be any other practicable number of them..V

Associated preferably with eachv nozzle is one or more guides 78 and. 80.Y When .a

.. plurality of successively acting guides 78, v80 are employed, they are preferably re'-` lated as to introduction angle, receptio'n angle and cross sectional areas, in a manner similarto that already described in connection with the guides 50 and 56 illustrated f' inFig. l. The steam may be finally taken 3 from the second stage buckets' by 'an outlet 82 communicating with a' passage 84 which passes in agencrally axial direction through .the annulus or guide ring 34, and o ens into an exhaust chamber 86 provided vvlthinthev casing 22. The chamber 22 has an exhaust outletl 88. Each guide 78 and 80, and theout1ets'84 may be formed and assembled with the guide ring 34 in the manner already described in connection with the guides 50, etc., of the rst stage.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the machine hereinbefore described is Well adapted `for running at a medium speed and for small powersvas'for driving Ventilating fans, centrifugal pumps,

Some of the features of theinvention may be advantageously employed in connectionv with a single stage 4turbine such asisshown in Figs. 10, 11 and l2. The arrangement..

bf nozzles, guides, etc., may be the same as or similar. to that already 'described Referring particularly to Fig. 12, a -fnaloutl'et 90 Whlch receives thel steam'after its passage through the buckets, may communicate with a duct 92 opening into an exhaust chamber 94 having an outlet 96 shown in Fig. 11. This single stage turbine may be provided with a steam chest 98 similar to the chest 42 shovvn'in Fig. 4. One or more nozzles each, if desired, With a guide or guides, together with the rotor buckets, constitute the steam path of the single stage turbine.

It is to be understood that t-he specific embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings have been disclosed merely for purposes of' illustration, and the properscope of the invention is by no means limited thereto. `On the contrary, the specific constructions shown and described may be variously changed and -modified by addition, omission, substitution of equivalence or the like, all Within the proper scope of the subjoined claims. It is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be used to advantage separately.

I claim.- v

1. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a rotor; means to introduce the elastic fluid initially to the rotor; and a guide in a-plane substantially parallel to the plane of the rotor to recover the fluid initially so introduced and to introduce it to the rotor l in adirection more nearly perpendicular to a radius ofthe rotor at thc point of introduction, than the direction of initial introduction of the fluid.

2. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of Ia rotor; means to introduce the elastic fluid initially to the rotor; and a plural-V ity of successively acting means in planes subsfantiallyparallel to the plane of the rotor to recover' the fluid initially so introduced and to re-apply it'aplurality of times at progressively decreasing introduction any gles.

3. Inan elasticfluid turbine, the combination of a'rotor; means to introduce the elastic fluidl initially tothe rotor; a plurality of successively acting recovery means in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the rotor to take the fluid from the rotor at progressively increasing Vreception angles; and a plurality of successively acting applying means to apply the fluid at progressively decreasing introduction angles.

4. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a rotor; means to introduce the elastic fluid initially to the rotor; and a plurality of meansy to recover from the rotor thc fluid initially so introduced, said recovery means `being in planes substantially parallel to the plane of the rotor and constructed for lI)rogressively increasing reception angles;

and means to re-apply the fluid recovered by Said rst acting recovery means.

5. Inian elastic fluid turbine, the combination of la rotor; a guide member disposed substantially concentric with the rotor and overlying the buckets of the latter; and a plurality of guides in said member positioned alternately adjacent opposite sides thereof.

6. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a rotor having peripheral buckets opening tangentially and formed with rounded bottoms; means initially to introduce and direct the elast-ic fluid into said buckets. on one side thereof whereby the fluid is whirled Within the buckets and discharged backwardly from the opposite side thereof; and guide means to receive the fluid thus discharged andl return it to the buckets at a point on the same side of the rotor as that on which the discharge occurred whereby the fluid is returned to the buckets on that side and receives thereupon in the buckets a whirl in the contrary direction, said guide means having an introducing angle less than that of the means for initially introducing the elastic fluid to the rotor.

7. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of' a rotor having peripheral buckets formed With rounded bottoms; and a staggered steam path including said buckets, means initially to introduce the fluid to the rotor and guides located at different sides of said rotor for introducing the fluid to the rotor at progressively decreasing angles,

ducing it to the rotor on the same side as received but at a different point.

8. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a rotor having peripheral buckets formed with rounded bottoms; a staggered steam path including said buckets, means initially to introduce the fluid to the rotor and guides located at alternate sides of said rotor for receiving the fluid from the rotor at progressively increasing angles, each of said guides having 'provision for reintroducing the fluid to the rotor on the same side as received but at a different point.

9. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combinatioirof a rotor having peripheral buckets formed with rounded bottoms; and a staggered steam path including said buckets, means initially to introduce the fluid to the rotor, and guides located at different sides of said rotor for receiving the fluid from the rotor at progressively increasing angles and introducing the fluid to the rotor 'at progressively decreasing angles, each of said guides being arranged to introduce the fluid to the rotor on the same side as, received from the rotor. Y

10. In an elastic fluid turbine, the combination of a rotor having peripheral buckets rotor, and guide means -to receive and reinformed with rounded bottoms; means ini- I In testimony whereof3 I havevsigned my lially to introduce the fluid to onevside of the i name to this specification, in the presence of i two'subseribing Witnesses. troduce the Huid at the opposie-sicha of said l 4 GUY B. COLLIER. rotor, the angle of rein'oduction being less Witnesses: than the angle of said nitialy introducing LAURENCE A. JANNEY, means. A EVERETL S. EMERY. 

